Sultanate's government revenues rise

The Sultanate's government revenues rose by (17%) during January 2013 to (RO. 1056.9) million against (RO. 903.4) million during the corresponding period in 2012. The monthly statistical bulletin issued by the National Statistics Centre (NSC) attributed this to a (14.4%) rise in the Sultanate's net oil revenues, which stood at (RO. 926.1) million by the end of January 2013 against (RO. 809.5) million during the corresponding period in 2012, and a (7.3%) rise of gas revenues to (RO. 92.5) million against (RO. 86.2) million by the end of January 2012.  It is also attributed to growth in 2012 revenues.     The government's total general expenditure rose by (46.4%) during January 2013 to (RO. 639) million against (RO. 436.4) million during the corresponding period in 2012. The bulletin pointed out that the rise in the general expenditure resulted from a (13.9%) increase in current expenditure, which stood at (RO. 485.6) million against (RO. 426.3) million during the corresponding period in 2012, as well as a (57000%) rise of the investment spending to (RO. 57.1) million compared to (RO. 100,000) and a (863%) growth in contributions and support of the private sector at the end of January 2013 to (RO. 96.3) million against (RO. 10) million during the same period in 2012. The State's General Budget surplus achieved a surplus (RO. 398.5) million during January 2013 against a surplus by (RO. 466.9) million during the corresponding period in 2012, according to the NSC's bulletin.